Show HOPE Of SHORT WAR DASHED BY RUSSIA ARMY AUTHORITIES RECOGNIZE THAT MONTHS MUST ELAPSE BEFORE VICTORY CAN COME Russian Collapse Will Release German Forces to Bolster Up Line Lineon on Western Front Where American Ameri Amen can Troops Are to Be Engaged No Washington No attempt Is made here lere to minimize the time seriousness of lime he situation In the war theatres In Europe Time The United States is in the war and will go through with it but butan an any hope of a short struggle has gone none glimmering gUmmering with the apparent almost complete collapse of the Russian war The development was not unexpected ed by man many army officers When time the offensive of Tul July 1 was started b by bythe the he Russian forces the time most frequent comment comment heard here herc was that it was probably the time dying kick of the time old Russian machine For the time United States the thc Russian collapse may have an Immediate and direct bearing It will if the time German general staff presses its advantage release release re- re lease ease additional German forces force to bolster bolster bol bol- ster stel up the time western front where the time American troops are to be bc engaged The Time German line in the west has had not been een seriously impaired at any point officials here believe Germans Improve Weakest Front It has imas been noted in fact that the theone theone theone one strategic advantage gained In recent re re- re- re cent fighting was gained by the Gelm Ger- Ger m nans ns Many officers here believe that when a small sector of the British line Une linen In iii n Belgium was overwhelmed the Germans Ger- Ger mans nans improved their weakest front materially That view is based on opinion that the time only hope of decisive attainments for the time allies in the west lies les In roiling rolIng up the German right flank lank where it reaches the sea in Belgium Bel- Bel gi gium urn If that could be done it is argued that hat the time U boat b bases ses could be stamped out and the only offensive e instrument of the time Germans be bc eliminated entirely or r made Ineffective It would require combined army and nav navy operations for tor it would be necessary sar ary sary to force a landing behind the time German Gernan Ger- Ger nan man line and force time the whole right lank flunk back bud from the time sea as a n result The Time price of such a victory against against time the lie U-boats U and anti Ge German man shore batteries batteries bat- bat teries eries probably would be app appalling and here thele Is nothing to Indicate that the time effort is being seriously considered Allies Can Hold Line Reports from froum France official and unoffIcial so far fur as known give no cheering picture of what must be done There appears no doubt that the time allied alliedIne line Ine can stand against any force Ger- Ger nany can bring against It Even time the Russian disaster does not affect that that situation But nut to gather the time necessary strength for a successful offensive will take aku time and ample sea transportation lou Hon facilities if the time United States Is Iso isto isto to o furnish the time needed surplus of men airplanes munitions and food The transportation problems before beforetime he time United States tates both on omi land and andea Sell sea ea are constantly increasing In scope It t seems certain now that whole railroad railroad rail rail- road oad systems will have to be set up In n France to give gi the time American line Hue he time flow of war materials and anti men hat it must have to press home mome an an attack |